About the book
In this stunning collection, Franz Wright chronicles the journey back from a place of isolation and wordlessness. After a period when it seemed certain he would never write poetry again, he speaks with bracing clarity about the twilit world that lies between madness and sanity, addiction and recovery. Wright negotiates the precarious transition from illness to health in a state of skeptical rapture, discovering along the way the exhilaration of love--both divine and human--and finding that even the most battered consciousness can be good company.
Whether he is writing about his regret for the abortion of a child, describing the mechanics of slander (\"I can just hear them on the telephone and keening all their kissy little knives\"), or composing an ironic ode to himself (\"To a Blossoming Nut Case\"), Wright's poems are exquisitely precise. Charles Simic has characterized him as a poetic miniaturist, whose \"secret ambition is to write an epic on the inside of a matchbook cover.\" Time and again, Wright turns on a dime in a few brief lines, exposing the dark comedy and poignancy of his heightened perception.
Here is one of the poems from the collection:
Description of Her Eyes
Two teaspoonfuls,
and my mind goes
everyone can kiss my ass now--
then it's changed,
I change my mind.
Eyes so sad, and infinitely kind.
Editions of The Beforelife
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780375411540
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780375709432
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307554574
Read an Excerpt
In this stunning collection, Franz Wright chronicles the journey back from a place of isolation and wordlessness. After a period when it seemed certain he would never write poetry again, he speaks with bracing clarity about the twilit world that lies between madness and sanity, addiction and recovery. Wright negotiates the precarious transition from illness to health in a state of skeptical rapture, discovering along the way the exhilaration of love--both divine and human--and finding that even the most battered consciousness can be good company.
Whether he is writing about his regret for the abortion of a child, describing the mechanics of slander (\"I can just hear them on the telephone and keening all their kissy little knives\"), or composing an ironic ode to himself (\"To a Blossoming Nut Case\"), Wright's poems are exquisitely precise. Charles Simic has characterized him as a poetic miniaturist, whose \"secret ambition is to write an epic on the inside of a matchbook cover.\" Time and again, Wright turns on a dime in a few brief lines, exposing the dark comedy and poignancy of his heightened perception.
Here is one of the poems from the collection:
Description of Her Eyes
Two teaspoonfuls,
and my mind goes
everyone can kiss my ass now--
then it's changed,
I change my mind.
Eyes so sad, and infinitely kind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Beforelife about?
In this stunning collection, Franz Wright chronicles the journey back from a place of isolation and wordlessness. After a period when it seemed certain he would never write poetry again, he speaks with bracing clarity about the twilit world that lies between madness and sanity, addiction and recovery. Wright negotiates the precarious transition from illness to health in a state of skeptical rapture, discovering along the way the exhilaration of love--both divine and human--and finding that even the most battered consciousness can be good company.
Whether he is writing about his regret for the abortion of a child, describing the mechanics of slander (\"I can just hear them on the telephone and keening all their kissy little knives\"), or composing an ironic ode to himself (\"To a Blossoming Nut Case\"), Wright's poems are exquisitely precise. Charles Simic has characterized him as a poetic miniaturist, whose \"secret ambition is to write an epic on the inside of a matchbook cover.\" Time and again, Wright turns on a dime in a few brief lines, exposing the dark comedy and poignancy of his heightened perception.
Here is one of the poems from the collection:
Description of Her Eyes
Two teaspoonfuls,
and my mind goes
everyone can kiss my ass now--
then it's changed,
I change my mind.
Eyes so sad, and infinitely kind.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Beforelife?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Poetry / Poems
Where can I read a sample of The Beforelife?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780375411540
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Beforelife?
Franz Wright
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Beforelife is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780375411540) and paperback(ISBN 9780375709432) and ebook(ISBN 9780307554574)
Where can I buy The Beforelife online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Beforelife from below
Where can I buy The Beforelife?